The primary reason for Illinois residents over the age of 18 to obtain a REAL ID is for domestic air travel on commercial airlines and for accessing specific federal facilities, such as military bases and federal courthouses, starting May 7th. However, those with a valid U.S. passport, as well as individuals under 18, will not need a REAL ID.

“Get Real Illinois” Campaign Aims to Boost Awareness

Giannoulias launched the “Get Real Illinois” campaign last May to inform residents about the requirements and deadlines associated with the federal REAL ID initiative. The campaign has partnered with organizations throughout the state to promote enrollment through a series of REAL ID “pop-up” events over the past year.

The Secretary of State’s office has seen a significant increase in REAL ID issuances, with 628,279 issued in 2022, 864,240 in 2023, and 1.1 million in 2024. January 2025 saw a record 128,000 REAL IDs issued in a single month.

DMV Appointments and Required Documents

To accommodate the surge in demand, the Secretary of State’s office has increased the number of daily appointments by nearly 2,500 at the 44 appointment-only DMVs in Chicago and the suburbs. Residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment at www.ilsos.gov to avoid potential long waits, especially at the walk-in facilities in the Loop and Chinatown.

Currently, only about 30 percent (3.4 million) of Illinois residents with a driver’s license or state ID hold a REAL ID.

For those who do need a REAL ID, Giannoulias recommends applying at least 30 days before any planned air travel after May 7, 2025. It’s important to note that a temporary driver’s license or state ID will not be accepted as a REAL ID-compliant form of identification.

Applicants must apply in person at an Illinois DMV and provide the following documents:

1. Proof of Identity: A U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Naturalization Certificate, Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Citizenship. Non-U.S. citizens can present an employment authorization document, a permanent resident card, or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form. Name change documents are required if applicable.
2. Proof of Social Security Number (SSN): A Social Security card, a W-2, or a pay stub with the full SSN.
3. Two Proofs of Current Residency: Examples include a utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title, or a bank statement.
4. Proof of Signature: A signed credit or debit card, canceled check, or current state driver’s license or state ID.

Illinois residents can access an interactive checklist online to ensure they have all the necessary documents before visiting a DMV.

The post Illinois Secretary of State Clarifies REAL ID Requirements Ahead of May 7 Deadline first appeared on SJO Daily.

The event, scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Parkland College Student Union cafeteria, will explore the ruling’s lasting impact on education and society.

Dr. Lorenzo Baber, UIUC College of Education Professor and director of the Office of Community College Research and Leadership, will facilitate the discussion. Panelists will share personal experiences and reflections on how the 1954 Supreme Court decision has influenced their lives and communities.

The Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, had far-reaching consequences beyond K-12 public schools, significantly impacting postsecondary education opportunities. Dr. Baber will provide an overview of Brown’s transformative effects on expanding access to higher education and discuss ongoing challenges in achieving educational equity.

The event aims to engage the Champaign-Urbana community in an interactive discussion about local collaborations that can build upon Brown’s promise while addressing persistent inequalities. This panel presentation is part of Parkland College’s Black History Month 2025 celebration, which focuses on the theme “African Americans and Labor”.

As the nation reflects on seven decades since this momentous ruling, events like this serve as important reminders of the progress made and the work still needed to ensure equal educational opportunities for all Americans. The panel at Parkland College offers a unique opportunity for community members to participate in this ongoing dialogue and contribute to shaping a more equitable future in education.

For a complete list of Black History Month events at Parkland College, interested individuals can visit parkland.edu/bhm.

The post Parkland College and UIUC to Host Panel on Brown v. Board of Education’s 70th Anniversary first appeared on SJO Daily.

Dr. Gingold was born in Warsaw on September 20, 1939, a day before the Nazis bombed the hospital and just 19 days after they invaded Poland, igniting World War II. His family endured the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto, a harrowing escape, cattle car transport to Siberia, survival in Kazakhstan, and time in a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany before finally arriving at Ellis Island in May 1951.

Now retired from his role as Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Illinois and a social entrepreneurial “incubator” for business, Dr. Gingold dedicates his time to educating others about the Holocaust and promoting tolerance by sharing his family’s experiences. He is committed to reaching as many people as possible with his story, hoping to inspire the best in all who hear it.

The Gingold family’s incredible journey is also documented in the book, Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy, written by Bill’s nephew, Jeffrey Gingold. The book will be available for purchase after the event, with all author royalties donated to the Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee.

Attendees can also listen to Dr. Gingold on the podcast series, Holocaust Stories of Champaign-Urbana and Beyond, available on YouTube and Spotify. Find the episode and more information at cujf.org/hec/podcasts.

This is a unique opportunity to hear a firsthand account of survival and resilience during one of history’s darkest periods. The event is free and open to the public.

The post Holocaust Survivor Dr. William Gingold to Speak at Mahomet Public Library first appeared on SJO Daily.

During his speech, Pritzker warned of what he perceives as alarming trends in American politics, particularly targeting the Trump administration and its supporters. He stated, “I do not invoke the specter of Nazis lightly. But I know the history intimately — and have spent more time than probably anyone in this room with people who survived the Holocaust. Here’s what I’ve learned – the root that tears apart your house’s foundation begins as a seed – a seed of distrust and hate and blame.

“The seed that grew into a dictatorship in Europe a lifetime ago didn’t arrive overnight. It started with everyday Germans mad about inflation and looking for someone to blame.”

The governor’s remarks were particularly pointed when he said, “It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic,” urging vigilance against what he sees as authoritarian tendencies.”

While Hitler became chancellor of Germany in January 1933 and declared himself the sole leader of Germany in August 1934, a period of about 18 months, it only took one month to get the Reichstag Fire Decree passed, curtailing civil liberties. 

By March 1933, the Enabling Act was passed, giving Hitler emergency powers. This act granted Chancellor Adolf Hitler and his cabinet the power to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag or the approval of President Hindenburg for a period of four years. It allowed Hitler’s government to issue decrees independently of the Reichstag and the presidency and provided a legal basis to consolidate his power and establish a dictatorship.

By August 1934, Hitler had eliminated all opposition and declared himself Führer, combining the roles of President, Chancellor, and Head of the Army. This marked the completion of his transformation of Germany from a democracy into a Nazi dictatorship, a process that took approximately 19 months from his initial appointment as Chancellor.

Hitler used discrimination, particularly antisemitism and racism, as a key tool to gain and consolidate power in Germany.  He blamed Jews for Germany’s problems, including its defeat in World War I and subsequent economic struggles while promoting the idea of Aryan racial superiority, positioning Germans as the “master race” and other groups, especially Jews and Slavs, as inferior. This appealed to a sense of national pride and justified discriminatory policies.

While Jews were the primary target, Hitler’s regime also persecuted other groups, including Black people, Roma, and people with disabilities. This broadened the base of discrimination and allowed for more widespread control.

Hitler quickly implemented laws to marginalize and persecute Jews and other minority groups. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 stripped Jews of citizenship and prohibited marriages between Jews and non-Jews.

In his first month back in office, President Trump has taken several actions that echo some of Hitler’s early moves to consolidate power, particularly in terms of targeting minority groups and curtailing civil liberties.

Pritzker pointed out some of Trump’s rhetoric in his speech.

“I’m watching with a foreboding dread what is happening in our country right now,” Pritzker said. “A president who watches a plane go down in the Potomac – and suggests — without facts or findings — that a diversity hire is responsible for the crash. Or the Missouri Attorney General who just sued Starbucks – arguing that consumers pay higher prices for their coffee because the baristas are too “female” and “nonwhite.” The authoritarian playbook is laid bare here: They point to a group of people who don’t look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems.”

While the scale and context are different, there are concerning parallels:

1. Executive orders targeting diversity and inclusion: Trump signed three executive orders in his first days back in office that undermine diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts within the federal government. 
2. Restricting rights of specific groups: One of Trump’s orders prohibits references to transgender individuals, effectively erasing their recognition in federal policy.
3. Rapid implementation of discriminatory policies: Trump enacted these significant policy changes within his first month in office, similar to Hitler’s quick actions like the Reichstag Fire Decree.
4. Using executive power to bypass legislative processes: Trump’s use of executive orders to rapidly implement major policy changes echoes Hitler’s use of emergency powers to bypass normal legislative processes.
5. Scapegoating and divisive rhetoric: Trump’s past rhetoric blaming immigrants and minorities for various problems echoes Hitler’s scapegoating tactics.
6. Undermining civil rights protections: Trump’s orders are seen as a deliberate attempt to undo progress on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, creating new barriers to opportunity. This parallels Hitler’s early moves to curtail civil liberties.
7. Centralizing power: Trump’s actions, particularly in federal contracting and hiring, concentrate more power in the executive branch, similar to Hitler’s consolidation of power.

Trump has also unveiled sweeping plans for mass deportations in his second term. The administration aims to remove up to 1 million unauthorized immigrants annually. His deportation strategy targets all undocumented immigrants, not just those with criminal records. 

To achieve these ambitious goals, the administration plans to set a national quota for federal officers to arrest at least 1,200 undocumented immigrants daily. As of February 6, 2025, the administration reported arresting 11,000 undocumented immigrants, averaging about 600 daily arrests. The administration is also suspending humanitarian parole programs and refugee resettlement while reviving the controversial “Remain in Mexico” program.

Trump has consistently blamed immigrants for various societal problems, echoing Hitler’s scapegoating of Jews and other minority groups. Trump has described immigrants as “poisoning the blood of our country” and accused them of bringing crime and economic hardship. He has also referred to undocumented immigrants as “animals” and insisted that “they’re not humans,” reminiscent of Hitler’s dehumanization of Jews and other targeted groups.

Trump’s statements about immigrants are not supported by evidence:

1. Crime: Studies consistently show that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are not more likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens.
2. Economic impact: Research indicates that immigration generally has a positive effect on the U.S. economy, contributing to economic growth and innovation.

On January 29, 2025, a tragic midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport resulted in 67 fatalities. In response, President Trump baselessly claimed that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were partly responsible for the crash. He accused the Obama and Biden administrations of prioritizing diversity over air safety and signed an executive order to review all federal aviation hiring and safety decisions made during the previous four years. 

Trump declared an end to DEI initiatives in the Defense Department, emphasizing the need for “the best and brightest” in air traffic control and throughout government. These accusations were made without evidence, as investigations into the crash were still in their early stages. 

Trump justified his claims by stating, “Because I have common sense, OK, and unfortunately a lot of people don’t”.

Trump’s claims about DEI programs affecting air safety are unfounded:

1. Air traffic controllers must meet strict qualifications, including being U.S. citizens, under 31 years old when first hired, passing criminal background checks, and medical exams.
2. Training process: Controllers undergo rigorous training, including programs at the FAA Academy and extensive on-the-job training, before becoming certified.
3. Certification: Controllers must pass knowledge and practical exams and meet experience requirements to be certified by the FAA, regardless of demographic factors.
4. Union response: The Air Traffic Controllers Association emphasized that certification criteria do not consider race or gender.

However, Trump’s remarks go beyond targeting groups of people. The President has also used terms like “vermin” to describe political opponents. He’s called for Rep. Liz Cheney to be fired upon; threatened former President Joe Biden with FBI raids, investigations, indictments, and jail time at least 25 times; dismissed Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan on February 7, 2025; dismissed 18 board members from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; several career prosecutors involved in criminal investigations concerning Trump have been fired; eight senior FBI officials who were part of the investigations into the January 6 Capitol riots were terminated.

And, like Hitler, Trump has gone after the press. Trump has intensified his criticism of traditional media outlets, labeling journalists as the “enemy of the people” and frequently issuing threats against news organizations. Trump and his ally Elon Musk have directly attacked journalists by name on social media platforms, demanding their dismissal from news organizations. And they limited journalists’ access to government information by taking government webpages offline, deleting previously available data, and restricting access to the White House and Pentagon.

During Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Munich for the Security Conference in February 2025, he met with Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, but did not meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He has also urged German mainstream political parties to drop resistance to cooperating with the far right, particularly in reference to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Also within Trump’s circle of influence, Elon Musk virtually addressed a rally for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, urging Germans to move beyond “past guilt”. There has been debate over whether Musk made a gesture twice during an inauguration rally that resembled a Nazi-style salute, the same salute Steve Bannon gave at Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 20.

“I just have one question: What comes next?,” Pritzker asked. “After we’ve discriminated against, deported or disparaged all the immigrants and the gay and lesbian and transgender people, the developmentally disabled, the women and the minorities – once we’ve ostracized our neighbors and betrayed our friends – After that, when the problems we started with are still there staring us in the face – what comes next?”

Pritzker tied his remarks back to 1978 when a Nazi group planned a march in Skokie, Ill. where one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors anywhere in the world lived. 

“The leaders of that march knew that the images of Swastika clad young men goose stepping down a peaceful suburban street would terrorize the local Jewish population – so many of whom had never recovered from their time in German concentration camps.”

In 1977, a small group of neo-Nazis led by Frank Collin announced plans to march through Skokie, home to a large Jewish population including thousands of Holocaust survivors. 

The village of Skokie responded swiftly, enacting ordinances to block the demonstration and filing a lawsuit in state court. These measures included requiring liability insurance for demonstrations and prohibiting the wearing of military-style uniforms.

The case quickly escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the neo-Nazis’ right to march based on free speech concerns. This decision sparked intense debate about the balance between protecting free speech and shielding communities from hate speech.

Despite the legal victory, the neo-Nazis ultimately decided not to march in Skokie. Instead, they held a rally in Chicago on June 24, 1978, which was met with a much larger counter-protest. The Chicago Tribune reported that the Nazi rally “sputtered to an unspectacular end after 10 minutes,” drawing only about 20 group members compared to an estimated 2,000 counter-protesters.

While American children are taught that the United States ended Hitler’s reign and WWII, large swaths of information about American history and sentiment are left out. 

Prior to World War II, US immigration policy significantly restricted immigration, reflecting a broader trend of limiting immigration from certain regions and groups. The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, established a quota system that heavily favored northern and western European immigrants while limiting those from southern and eastern Europe, including many Jews. It also effectively banned all immigration from Asia, violating previous agreements and formalizing racial exclusion policies. Italians, Greeks, Poles, and other Slavic peoples were also targeted. 

The law was designed to preserve what its supporters considered to be the racial and ethnic homogeneity of the United States by severely restricting immigration from certain regions and completely banning it from others. It was strongly influenced by eugenics theories, which promoted the idea of preserving the “purity” of the white race.  Supporters of the law openly argued for preserving the racial composition of the United States as it existed in earlier decades.

By basing quotas on the 1890 census, the law effectively made mass migration from Eastern Europe impossible, severely limiting Jewish immigration. The act brought to an end a historic migration of Jews to the United States that had seen over 2 million Jewish immigrants arrive between 1880 and 1920. The law’s restrictions remained in place during the 1930s and 1940s, preventing many Jewish refugees from fleeing Nazi persecution and the Holocaust.

The racist motivations behind the act were so apparent that it was later cited favorably by Nazi legislators when crafting their own discriminatory policies. 

While there is no precise estimate of how many Jewish people could have been saved if the United States had allowed more liberal immigration, the number would have been significant based on the available information:

1. In 1938, over 300,000 Germans, mostly Jewish refugees, had applied for U.S. visas, but only about 20,000 applications were approved.
2. By June 1939, the number of visa applicants had increased to over 300,000, far exceeding the annual quota of 27,370 for German citizens.
3. Between 1933 and 1945, approximately 180,000-220,000 refugees fleeing Nazism permanently immigrated to the United States. However, this number was far below the potential, as the racist immigration quotas in place since 1924 were rarely filled during that time.
4. The refusal to admit refugees continued even as the situation in Europe worsened. For instance, in 1939, 83% of Americans were opposed to the admission of refugees.
5. After World War II, when immigration policies were relaxed, the United States admitted about 400,000 displaced persons between 1945 and 1952, of which approximately 96,000 were Jewish Holocaust survivors.

While Pritzker’s statements came during the budget address, and although he focused some time on how Trump’s economic policies could affect the people of Illinois, the call to the American people was evident. 

“Tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance,” he said. “Democracy requires your courage. So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let the “tragic spirit of despair” overcome us when our country needs us the most.”

Illinois Republicans called Pritzker’s speech, “grandstanding and hypocrisy from a politician who has already set his sights on his next pursuit of office.”

The post Pritzker Warns of Parallels Between Trump and Nazi Germany in Budget Address first appeared on SJO Daily.

Specifically, Section 7 of the order states:

“The President and the Attorney General, subject to the President’s supervision and control, shall provide authoritative interpretations of law for the executive branch. The President and the Attorney General’s opinions on questions of law are controlling on all employees in the conduct of their official duties.”

Key aspects of this provision include:

1. The President and Attorney General will provide “authoritative interpretations of law” for the entire executive branch.
2. Their legal opinions are deemed “controlling on all employees in the conduct of their official duties”.
3. Executive branch employees are prohibited from advancing legal interpretations that contradict those of the President or Attorney General, unless explicitly authorized.

The order explicitly targets what the administration views as a lack of accountability within “independent regulatory agencies,” arguing that these bodies have operated with insufficient Presidential oversight, leading to regulations promulgated without proper review.

Key Provisions of the Executive Order:

• OIRA Review: Mandates that all executive departments and agencies, including independent agencies, submit proposed and final “significant regulatory actions” to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Executive Office of the President for review before publication in the Federal Register. This expands the power of OIRA, which already reviews regulations from many executive branch agencies.
• Performance Standards: Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish performance standards and management objectives for independent agency heads and to report periodically to the President on their performance.
• Budgetary Control: Empowers the Director of OMB to review independent regulatory agencies’ obligations for consistency with the President’s policies and priorities. It also allows OMB to adjust these agencies’ apportionments, potentially restricting spending on activities that do not align with the President’s agenda, so long as such restrictions are consistent with law.
• White House Liaison: Requires heads of independent regulatory agencies to establish a “White House Liaison” position within their agencies, a role designed to facilitate coordination with the Executive Office of the President.
• Legal Interpretation: Affirms that the President and the Attorney General’s interpretations of the law are controlling on all employees in the executive branch, preventing employees from advancing interpretations that contradict those of the President or Attorney General unless explicitly authorized.

Potential Implications and Reactions

This Executive Order represents a potentially significant shift in the balance of power between the President and other branches of the government.

The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly grant the President or Attorney General exclusive authority to interpret laws for the executive branch. Instead, it establishes a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government:

1. Article II, Section 1 vests “executive power” in the President.
2. Article II, Section 3 requires the President to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”.
3. The executive power primarily consists of enforcing laws and appointing officials to carry out this duty.
4. Article III grants the judicial branch the power to interpret laws and determine their constitutionality.

The Constitution’s framers designed this separation of powers to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. While the President has significant authority in executing laws and conducting foreign affairs, the Constitution does not explicitly grant the power to be the sole interpreter of laws for the executive branch.

Making Laws:

The legislative branch, specifically Congress, is responsible for making laws. Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution states, “All Legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives”. The process of lawmaking involves both houses of Congress drafting, debating, and voting on bills before they are sent to the President for approval.

Interpreting Laws:

The judicial branch, particularly the Supreme Court, is primarily responsible for interpreting laws. The Supreme Court is considered “the highest tribunal in the Nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States”. However, it’s important to note that there is ongoing debate about the extent of this power, with some arguing that other branches and even citizens should have a role in constitutional interpretation.

The Supreme Court has recognized that the President has certain implied authorities, including supervising executive officials and recognizing foreign governments. However, the Court has also stated that the Constitution “refutes the idea that the President was intended to be a lawmaker”.

In cases of conflict between presidential and congressional powers, courts have used frameworks like Justice Jackson’s three-part test from Youngstown to determine the extent of presidential authority.

Justice Jackson’s three-part test from Youngstown, also known as the “tripartite framework,” is a method for evaluating the extent of presidential power in relation to Congress. This framework, introduced in Justice Robert Jackson’s concurring opinion in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952), outlines three categories of presidential action: 

1. Maximum Power: When the President acts with express or implied authorization from Congress, his authority is at its strongest. In this category, the President’s actions are supported by both his inherent powers and those delegated by Congress.
2. Zone of Twilight: When Congress has neither granted nor denied authority to the President, there exists a “twilight zone” where the distribution of powers between the executive and legislative branches is uncertain. In this category, presidential power can depend on the context, including congressional acquiescence or inaction.
3. Lowest Ebb: When the President acts in contradiction to the express or implied will of Congress, his power is at its weakest. In this category, the President relies solely on his own constitutional powers, which must be carefully scrutinized to avoid upsetting the balance of power within the federal government.

This framework has become a cornerstone for assessing executive power in subsequent Supreme Court cases and continues to be used when evaluating assertions of presidential authority.

The post Trump Declares Himself Monarch, Igniting Fierce Debate Over Executive Power first appeared on SJO Daily.

During his annual state of the state and budget address on Wednesday, Pritzker called for a roughly 3% spending increase to $55.2 billion in fiscal year 2026 that will be supported by a similar increase in state revenue to $55.5 billion.

The plan factors in a better-than-expected economic outlook for the coming fiscal year after the governor’s office originally projected a multi-billion-dollar shortfall in November. Pritzker also proposed a significant spending reduction compared to the November estimate while still increasing spending over current-year levels.

But administration officials also warned that the state is in large part at the whim of President Donald Trump’s onslaught of federal policy changes.

The governor’s plan assumes a $173 million increase in federal funding, though Pritzker named several enacted or feared Trump policies that could alter estimates, including tariffs, food safety deregulation and potential health care cuts.

“Let me be clear, this is going to affect your daily lives,” Pritzker said, citing the efforts of Trump advisor Elon Musk via the federal Department of Government Efficiency. “Our state budget can’t make up for the damage that is done to people across our state.”

The governor called his proposal “responsible and balanced,” pointing out that it doesn’t raise taxes on Illinoisans, though he did propose a tax hike on certain casino profits.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned as governor, there are no magic bean fixes,” Pritzker said. “And each year there’s some difficulty that requires us to work hard to overcome it.”

Read more: Pritzker must address multi-billion-dollar deficit amid federal funding uncertainty

Part of the spending plan includes significant changes to immigrant health care programs, including eliminating a program for low-income noncitizens living in the U.S. without legal permission between ages 42 and 64.

Gov. JB Pritzker delivers his State of the State and budget address before the General Assembly at the Illinois State Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/pool)

Ultimately, lawmakers and the governor will have to come to an agreement on a spending plan by the end of May. But the governor’s opening salvo could meet opposition from Democratic lawmakers in the General Assembly – especially members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus – due to what it doesn’t fund.

“All of us have been hearing that it was going to be a tough budget year. I think that we expected there to be some things in the budget that we weren’t going to be happy with,” Democratic Party of Illinois Chair and state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, said. “But I think completely removing a program is not anything that we were expecting.”

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Tightened spending

Despite the roughly 3% spending increase, most areas of the state budget would see little growth under Pritzker’s plan. About 75% of the spending increase comes from increased funding for education, pensions and growing health care costs.

Outside those areas, spending is up just 1% across the board.

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The most notable spending change is the elimination of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program that provides Medicaid-style benefits to certain low-income noncitizens ages 42 to 64. Pritzker proposed leaving the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program intact to serve certain low-income noncitizens age 65 and older, which will cost the state $132 million.

The programs unexpectedly stretched the state budget in spring 2023 when costs were projected to potentially reach $1 billion. Lawmakers gave the governor authority to control costs by pausing enrollment and enacting copays, and projected program costs are now at $558 million in the current fiscal year. Enrollment in the programs, meanwhile, has remained paused.

Eliminating the program for middle-aged adults is projected to save the general revenue fund about $330 million, according to the governor’s office. Pritzker told reporters later Wednesday he expects the federal government will stop reimbursing states for costs associated with programs providing services to noncitizens.

While Pritzker signified he’s open to working with lawmakers on what programs will ultimately be funded, he said his overarching goal is a balanced budget.

“If you come to the table looking to spend more – I’m going to ask you where you want to cut,” Pritzker said. “I have made difficult decisions – including to programs I have championed, which is hard for me, just as I know some of the difficult decisions you will have to make will be hard for you.”

One of the priorities Pritzker put on hold is an increase in spending on the state’s Early Childhood Block Grant program. In the past two years, the state has helped more than 11,000 children access child care as part of a multi-year plan. But the governor did not request another $75 million increase this year that would have helped add more.

Gov. JB Pritzker walks the floor before he delivers his State of the State and budget address before the General Assembly at the Illinois State Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/pool)

Pritzker also proposed redirecting funds previously appropriated for asylum seekers to other services. That includes reducing funding to $40 million from $139 million for “welcoming centers” that helped the state handle migrants bused here from Texas and other states.

Pritzker proposed allocating $282.7 million for Home Illinois, a program that provides services for the homeless and also provided assistance to new arrivals, keeping the program relatively flat from a year ago despite advocates’ calls for $100 million in new funding. The governor’s office said funds that were previously directed toward asylum seekers in Home Illinois would be redirected to homeless shelters and other services for Illinois’ homeless populations.

Pritzker’s proposal calls for allocating $2 million toward maintenance in the Department of Corrections, the minimum amount recommended. The move comes a year after the state allocated $900 million to rebuild the Stateville and Logan prisons after years of deterioration and behind-schedule repairs.

Pritzker also proposed increasing the “rainy day” fund by $154 million, bringing its balance to $2.5 billion at the end of FY26.

Notably absent from the proposal, however, was any new funding for public transportation. Chicago-area transit agencies face a more than $700 million shortfall in the coming year. Pritzker told reporters there still needs to be negotiations with the agencies about reforms before the state commits to new funding.

Education and human services

One of the few areas of the budget targeted for a substantial increase is PreK-12 education.

Pritzker’s plan includes the statutory minimum increase of $350 million for the Evidence-Based Funding formula, a plan lawmakers enacted in 2017 to focus new education spending on the neediest districts.

That would bring the total funding under the EBF formula to $8.9 billion, a $2.1 billion cumulative increase since the program began. Pritzker credited that funding for helping raise student test scores and improving graduation rates.

“I believe in building on what works,” he said. “So, despite the challenge we are facing this year, my budget proposal increases our commitment to Evidence-Based Funding for public education so that we put new resources in underfunded schools first.”

His plan also calls for adding $1.3 million for career and technical education and maintaining spending of $3 million next year to implement the state literacy plan.

But it also calls for flat funding of $748 million for Early Childhood Block Grants, which help subsidize the cost of preschool for at-risk and low-income children.

All told, Pritzker’s plan would bring total general revenue fund spending on PreK-12 education to just under $11.2 billion, or about $200 million less than the Illinois State Board of Education had requested.

State Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood, who chairs the House appropriations committee that deals with public schools, said after the speech that he thought Pritzker’s plan was insufficient, “for the simple fact that I think we can be better at EBF.”

“Last year, I wanted to argue for $450 million,” he said in an interview of the standard yearly increase in EBF funding. “I think that’s doable. I mean, if we’re ever going to have a real conversation about getting to full funding in K-12, we’re going to have to increase the EBF allocation more than what it is right now.”

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The governor is also continuing his effort to increase the number of employees at the Department of Children and Family Services. Pritzker proposed adding 100 new employees to increase staffing to 4,100 at the department, the most since 2002. Under his proposal, overall funding for DCFS will have increased by 100% since Pritzker took office.

The Department of Human Services would receive $7.9 billion, including $20 million to fund 50-cent-per-hour wage increases for direct service providers.

With most of the state’s federal pandemic relief funds now spent, Pritzker proposed allocating some state funding to keep up affected programs. That includes appropriating $40 million from the state’s general fund to implement the Reimagine Public Safety Act, a program designed to reduce gun violence.

Revenue changes

The governor’s budget office typically makes conservative estimates about revenue. The November forecast from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget had projected revenues to remain flat, driving a deficit of $3.2 billion.

But it relied on a September economic forecast from the financial services company S&P Global. The governor’s office says S&P has since revised its forecasts, leading the GOMB to increase its estimate by $1.6 billion. Pritzker’s office also now expects strong personal and corporate income tax growth next year in addition to limited sales tax growth.

The revenue outlook for the current FY25 budget was also revised upwards by $421 million thanks to personal income growth, consumer spending and a stable job market. The governor’s office plans to use the extra revenue to introduce $550 million in additional spending for the current fiscal year.

Gov. JB Pritzker delivers his State of the State and budget address before the General Assembly at the Illinois State Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/pool)

But Pritzker also proposed spending about $1.2 billion less than what the GOMB projected in its November estimate.

Another $469 million in revenue would be raised through other changes to law, including adjusting tax rates on electronic gambling and table games at casinos to generate $100 million in revenue. The plan also calls for pausing the transfer of $171 million in sales tax collected on motor fuel to the road fund and raising $198 million by providing temporary amnesty for individuals making delinquent tax payments.

But much uncertainty still surrounds how much federal funding Illinois will receiving going forward as the Trump administration pledges to cut federal spending. “Only an idiot” would think cutting off critical federal funding is a good idea, Pritzker said.

His proposal still anticipates roughly the same level of federal support in FY26 as the state currently receives. Pritzker’s office stressed it’s impossible to predict what Trump’s administration will do, but they believe the federal government must honor longstanding agreements.

State government efficiencies

Pritzker also emphasized making state government more efficient to save costs during his speech.

The governor announced new site readiness and surplus property programs that are designed to spark economic development, which ultimately could also amount to savings for the state. Pritzker proposed allocating $300 million to the Illinois Department of Central Management to repurpose five shuttered state prisons and developmental centers to ultimately attract new private economic development at the sites.

“This proposed budget enacts cost-saving operational efficiencies, improves productivity, curtails new hiring at agencies, consolidates unnecessary segregated funds, eliminates dormant boards and commissions, and overhauls state purchasing to save taxpayers money,” Pritzker said.

This includes studies of CMS and the Department of Transportation to identify better hiring and contracting practices, merging the mental health and substance abuse divisions at the Department of Public Health and reviewing potentially overlapping responsibilities between townships and other units of government.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

This article first appeared on Capitol News Illinois and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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The PPDirect app, which already provides birth control, UTI treatment, at-home STI testing, and emergency contraception, will now include medication abortion as part of its suite of services. This expansion aims to improve access, reduce wait times at health centers, and eliminate unnecessary travel for patients seeking abortion care.

“As PPIL is facing financial difficulties and an uncertain future because of the current administration, we are doing what we can to expand care and meet our patients where they are,” said Tonya Tucker, Interim President and CEO of PPIL. “Offering medication abortion through the PPDirect app allows patients to connect with us through their phone and removes the barrier of having to visit a health center.” 

The process for obtaining medication abortion through the app involves patients filling out a questionnaire, which is then reviewed by a PPIL medical professional. Qualified patients will receive the medication abortion pills at their Illinois home address within 1-2 days. The cost of medication abortion through PPDirect is $200, which includes shipping.

Dr. Virgil Reid, Interim Chief Medical Officer, noted that medication abortion accounts for half of the abortions PPIL provides. He emphasized that patients will receive the same trusted service associated with PPIL, with the option for follow-up care at a health center if needed.

The organization has seen a 47% increase in overall abortion care patients and an unprecedented number of out-of-state patients since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

PPIL continues to offer medication and procedural abortions, birth control, gender-affirming care, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and other services at health centers across Illinois and through telehealth.

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House Bill 1106, also known as the Local Advisory Committees on Special Education Act, lies in its mandate for school districts to form local advisory committees on special education if more than three parents or guardians of students receiving special education services request one. This provision ensures that a formal mechanism exists for parents to voice their concerns and contribute to the decision-making processes within their local school systems.

Key Features of the Proposed Legislation:

• Parent Majority: The bill stipulates that parents or guardians of students with disabilities must constitute a majority of the local advisory committee’s membership, with at least 50% of that majority being directly selected by fellow parents or guardians.
• Diverse Representation: In addition to parents, the committees must include individuals with disabilities, public school administrators, special education teachers, and other community members.
• Advisory Role: The responsibilities of the local advisory committees include providing recommendations on unmet needs, reviewing school improvement plans, monitoring compliance with special education laws, and providing input on funding applications.
• District Support: School districts are required to provide logistical and technical support to the committees, including training and access to relevant data, while adhering to confidentiality laws.
• Open Meetings: All committee meetings must be publicly announced, open to the public, and follow the Open Meetings Act, ensuring transparency and community involvement.

Currently, the bill is in the Rules Committee.

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The letter to Acting Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell cites reports that the White House is pressuring the IRS to agree to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DOGE. This MOU would reportedly provide DOGE software engineers extensive access to IRS systems, including the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS).

According to the IRS website, the IDRS is a system that enables employees in the Campuses and the AreaOffices to have instantaneous visual access to certain taxpayer accounts.

Some capabilities of the system include:

■ Researching account information and requesting returns.

■ Entering transactions such as adjustments, entity changes, etc.

■ Entering collection information for storage and processing in the system.

■ Automatically generating notices, collection documents, and other outputs.

“It appears the MOU proposes giving DOGE team members access to the IRS Integrated Data Retrieval System (“IDRS”), raising serious concerns that Elon Musk and his associates are seeking to weaponize government databases containing private bank records and other confidential information to target American citizens and businesses as part of a political agenda,” the Senators wrote. “The IRS must immediately disclose to the Senate Committee on Finance the full extent of the potential access to IRS systems and data granted to DOGE team members so that the Committee can address any efforts by DOGE personnel to gain access to taxpayer records at the IRS, which may constitute criminal violations of federal privacy laws.

“Statutory protections under section 6103 and related statutes prohibit improper inspection, disclosure, and misuse of taxpayer information. Section 6103 was modernized nearly 50 years ago, with overwhelming bipartisan majorities in Congress, as part of a suite of reforms enacted to prevent misuse of taxpayer information by the executive branch in response to abuses by President Nixon. The potential consequences for breaching the protections of section 6103 include criminal penalties such as imprisonment and fines, as well as money damages through civil litigation.”

The Nixon’s administration used the IRS to harass and intimidate political opponents, a practice that led to significant reforms aimed at preventing future abuses. 

Section 7217 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes strict limitations on high-ranking Executive Branch officials, including the President. This law prohibits these officials from:

1. Requesting an audit or investigation of a specific taxpayer
2. Interfering with an ongoing audit or investigation

The purpose of this section is to prevent the misuse of the IRS for political purposes or personal vendettas. Any violation of Section 7217 is considered a serious offense and is classified as a criminal act. Those found guilty of violating this law may face severe consequences, including:

• Monetary fines
• Imprisonment

The senators are demanding a swift response from the IRS, with a deadline of February 21, 2025, for answers to a detailed list of questions. These questions include:

• Providing copies of all MOUs being considered with DOGE.
• Identifying all non-IRS employees involved in proposing or negotiating the MOUs.
• Clarifying the terms of employment for DOGE team member Gavin Kliger at the IRS, including his access to tax return information.
• Detailing any restrictions on DOGE team members’ access to the IDRS system.
• Listing all DOGE team members currently employed at the IRS.
• Investigating a reported meeting between Gavin Kliger and senior IRS officials.
• Determining whether any taxpayer data accessed by DOGE team members has been copied or sent to non-governmental servers.
• Clarifying whether DOGE team members have been granted access to tax returns related to criminal investigations.

“Even if individuals affiliated with DOGE are employed by Treasury, their access to tax information may not be legal. For inspection of taxpayer information to be lawful, it must be made to or by an authorized person for an authorized purpose,” the Senators wrote. “While Treasury employees, such as IRS personnel, can access tax return information for their official duties involving tax administration, such as conducting audits or processing tax returns, they generally may not access them for reasons unrelated to those purposes. In addition, there are significant restrictions on access to tax return information for others in the employ of the federal government. There are serious statutory and regulatory restrictions on when employees outside the Treasury Department may gain access to tax return information. To date, no information on DOGE employees or any others executing orders on Musk’s behalf have revealed any clear, stated purpose as to why they need access to return information, whether they have followed all required laws to gain access to IRS systems, and what steps the IRS has taken to ensure that inspection of tax return is contained to authorized personnel and not disclosed to any unauthorized parties.

“No executive order requiring agency heads to provide DOGE personnel access to IRS records or information technology systems supersedes the federal tax code. Software engineers working for Musk seeking to gain access to tax return information have no right to hoover up taxpayer data and send that data back to any other part of the federal government and may be breaking the law if they are doing so. DOGE engineers also have no legal right to snoop around and inspect the tax returns of millions of American citizens unless expressly permitted under Section 6103.”

Warren and Wyden also raised the alarm that DOGE personnel meddling with IRS systems during tax filing season could cause breakdowns and delay tax refunds, potentially harming millions of Americans who rely on timely refunds.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is set to terminate thousands of probationary workers during the ongoing tax season, with layoffs potentially beginning as early as this week. While the exact number of affected employees remains unconfirmed, the cuts are expected to target staff members who have been with the agency for less than one or two years and have not yet secured full civil service protections.

These layoffs are part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to reduce the federal workforce, which includes directives to dismiss nearly all probationary employees lacking civil service protections. The cuts come at a critical time, as the 2025 tax season officially began on January 27, with the IRS anticipating over 140 million tax returns to be filed by the April 15 deadline.

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Key Provisions of the Homeschool Act

The proposed legislation seeks to create a more structured environment for homeschooling in Illinois. Here’s a breakdown of its main components:

• Homeschool Declaration Form: The State Board of Education (ISBE) would be required to create a standardized Homeschool Declaration Form by June 1, 2026, and make it available online by July 1, 2026. This form would be used by homeschool administrators to notify the principal of the public school or the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend.
• Notification Requirement: Beginning August 1, 2026, homeschool administrators would be required to submit the Homeschool Declaration Form annually. Failure to do so would result in the child being considered truant, with associated penalties.
• Curriculum and Qualifications: The bill mandates that homeschooled children receive instruction in core subjects such as language arts, mathematics, sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health. Homeschool administrators must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Health Requirements: If a homeschooled child seeks to enroll part-time in a public school or participate in public school activities, the homeschool administrator must provide proof of required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption.
• Data Collection and Reporting: Regional offices of education and intermediate service centers would be required to collect and store information on homeschooled children and report data annually to the State Superintendent of Education. ISBE would then compile a report for the General Assembly.

Rationale Behind the Legislation

The bill’s synopsis highlights the increasing prevalence of homeschooling and the perceived need for better protection and oversight of homeschooled children. It states that current laws do not adequately address situations where notification of a child’s schooling type could help reduce vulnerabilities to abuse and neglect. The bill’s findings emphasize that the requirements for homeschooling are in the best interests of children to receive a safe and sufficient education.

Impact on Homeschooling Families

If passed, the Homeschool Act would introduce new requirements for families choosing to homeschool in Illinois. These include:

• Increased Accountability: Homeschool administrators would be required to formally notify the state of their homeschooling activities and ensure their children receive instruction in core subjects.
• Potential for Oversight: Regional offices of education could request educational portfolios to assess the adequacy of the homeschool program.
• Access to Public School Resources: The bill encourages public schools to offer programming to homeschooled students and families and to have open communication with homeschool families.

Broader Implications

The bill also includes changes to the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act. Notably, it mandates that all non-public schools, including those not home-based, register with the State Board of Education. The bill seeks to ensure that non-public schools meet certain standards, including health and safety requirements and background checks for employees.

Next Steps

HB2827 is currently under consideration in the Illinois General Assembly. It will need to pass through the legislative process, including committee hearings and votes in both the House and Senate, before potentially being signed into law by the Governor. The bill’s implementation, if passed, would begin with the creation of the Homeschool Declaration Form and the establishment of reporting procedures, with the majority of the requirements going into effect in 2026 and 2027.

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